Bellamy is feeling his way at City, after arriving in the January transfer window from West Ham.

The Welshman has rarely settled at one club and he includes a brief stay at Anfield on his list.

Bellamy's team-mate Stephen Ireland believes he will be raring to go in the red corner of Merseyside.

Ireland said: ''Craig's a very fiery person and always wants to win and score. You can see why the manager signed him.

''He's going to go into this game determined to score. He's a proper winner, who plays with his heart on his sleeve. He will be a very important signing for us.

''Craig is going to want to prove a point against Liverpool and, we hope, get a goal. As soon as you get the ball you look for him, because his movement is brilliant.

''He's very quick, so you always know he can get on the end of balls - even if it's not a great pass.''

Ireland is in top form in his own right - his goal in the 2-2 draw against Copenhagen in the UEFA Cup this week was his 10th of the season.

He is only two adrift of Robinho and said: ''I'd love to keep scoring. I've set myself a few targets and I just want to keep reaching them.

''If I get in position and it happens for me, great. As long as I keep making those runs and get that service, that's the most important thing.''

Ireland believes the match against the title-chasers will be one for the purists.

He said: ''I think there will be be more space for us, and it should be a good footballing game.

''Liverpool are quite like us. They like to play football and hit on the break, so it could be an end-to-end match.

''No one expects us to get a victory, but we often win the games we're not expected to. 'The defeat at our place against them was hard to take.

''The turning point was when (Pablo) Zabaleta got sent off - although we still should have won. I think we'll have that fact on our minds at Anfield.''